LSU’s Flau'jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow talk injury updates ahead of March Madness opener
BATON ROUGE, La. – On the eve of LSU’s matchup against San Diego State in the first round of Women's March Madness, coach Kim Mulkey confirmed Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow’s availability to play.
Johnson, who has dealt with lingering shin inflammation in her right leg, has not suited up for LSU since the Tigers’ Feb. 27 loss to Alabama. The Tigers are 1-2 in her absence. Morrow re-aggravated a left foot sprain in LSU’s loss to Texas in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
When asked on Friday if she was feeling 100%, Johnson responded with one word: “Yep.”
Johnson and Morrow continue to exercise caution in their recovery process. The pair entered Friday's news conference wearing black Nike x Hyperice boots on their injured legs. Nike markets the boots as “a wearable and mobile high-top shoe that offers heat and dynamic air-compression massage on demand for athletes’ feet and ankles.”
Mulkey didn’t get into the science behind the shoe, but seemed willing to defer to her players on their choice of off-court footwear.
“I don't know why they wear those boots,” she said. “I start singing that Nancy Sinatra song, 'These boots were made for walking ...’”
Johnson explained that she planned on wearing the boot whenever she is not playing, including during a game when she's on a break on or during a long timeout.
Morrow doesn’t expect her injury to hinder her performance.
“I would say honestly a lot of people see me in a boot, and I go out, and I get a double-double,” she said.
Earlier this week, Morrow and Johnson were recognized as second- and third-team AP All-Americans, respectively. LSU is 26-3 this season with the pair in the starting lineup. Johnson is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.9 points per game. Morrow averages 18.5 points per game and leads the nation with 13.6 rebounds per game.
“Both of them have had some days to rehab and start feeling better, and they've been practicing,” Mulkey said. “So it doesn't seem to be limitations on how long they can play or anything like that.”
Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flau'jae Johnson injury update: LSU guard feels 100% for March Madness
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